Supporting Those Who Support: Secondary Trauma Among Teaching Professionals

Over my 25 years in education, I've witnessed firsthand the significant emotional toll that teaching can take on educators. What many inside and outside the profession don't realise is the critical issue of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) – a challenge that has become increasingly prominent in our schools.

Understanding Secondary Traumatic Stress

Secondary Traumatic Stress is more than just workplace stress. It's the emotional distress that occurs when educators hear about or witness the trauma experienced by their students. This goes beyond typical professional challenges, encompassing the emotional weight of supporting children who have experienced significant trauma and managing the complex behavioural changes that often accompany such experiences. Wellbeing Leaders, Heads of House, Year Level Coordinators and those who work with students with complex disability, are at increased risk.

The Alarming Statistics

Recent research reveals the true extent of this issue. In a comprehensive survey, educators were asked about their experiences with secondary traumatic stress:

37.8% of respondents reported experiencing traumatic stress from their students ‘often or very often’

An additional 38.4% reported experiencing these feelings ‘sometimes’.

This means that a staggering 76.2% of educators are experiencing some level of secondary traumatic stress in their professional lives.

Strategies for Managing Secondary Traumatic Stress

Based on my years of experience and the research findings, here are some critical strategies for addressing STS:

Professional Support

• Implement dedicated and regular reflective practice sessions for educators, that are context specific, facilitated by professionals who already have an intimate knowledge of the profession and who have the skills and experience to hold space for these challenging conversations and reflections

• Seek confidential personalised opportunities for a safe and structured debrief with a facilitator who is trained to do so AND someone who intimately gets the nature of the role. Many educators tap into their own private therapist

• Create supportive peer networks within schools - there’s a lot more to this than just providing team-building sessions and allowing staff to drop in on another staff member to chat!

Personal Resilience

• Develop robust self-care practices and psychological flexibility - tap into the knowledge of educators who are also therapists

• Establish clear emotional boundaries

• Build in recovery time

Institutional Approaches

• Recognize STS as a legitimate workplace concern

• Provide training on trauma-informed teaching

• Create supportive work environments that prioritise educator wellbeing

The Path Forward

Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress is not just about supporting educators – it's about maintaining the quality of education for our students. When teachers are emotionally healthy, they can provide the best possible support for children who have experienced trauma.

Conclusion

Secondary Traumatic Stress is a critical issue that demands our attention. By recognising its prevalence, understanding its impact, and implementing targeted support strategies, we can create healthier, more resilient educational environments.

Educators are the backbone of our society.

Would you like to explore this further? Connect with me to find out about the Psychoemotional Strength Program: cathy@refrehreset.com.au